What if I need a follow-up appointment?

What if I need a follow-up telehealth appointment?

If your clinician recommends a follow-up — or if your condition needs ongoing attention — you can book another appointment at any time through the Abby Health app. Where possible, you can request to see the same clinician again. Your previous consultation notes are already on file, so you will not need to re-explain your situation from the beginning.

How do I book a follow-up appointment?

Booking a follow-up works the same way as booking any new appointment:

1. Open the Abby Health app.
2. Tap Book an Appointment.
3. Select your health concern — you can note that this is a follow-up to a previous consultation.
4. Choose a time and your preferred consultation format — video or phone.
5. Confirm your booking.

If your clinician specifically recommended a follow-up at the end of your consultation, the booking prompt may appear directly in your appointment summary. Tap it to pre-fill the relevant details.

For a general guide to the booking process, see how to book a telehealth appointment.

Can I see the same clinician for my follow-up?

Yes, where their schedule allows. Continuity of care is a central part of how Abby Health works. When you know a clinician already understands your situation, follow-up consultations are more efficient and more comfortable. Three in 4 Abby Health patients see the same clinician for follow-up care (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026).

To request the same clinician, look for them in the booking flow under available appointments. If they are not currently available, you can choose another clinician — your full history will still be accessible to them through Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, before the call begins.

What does Abby AI do to support follow-up care?

Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, surfaces your consultation history, previous symptoms, and any ongoing concerns to your clinician before each appointment. This means your follow-up clinician starts the call with context — they know what was discussed last time, what was prescribed or referred, and what to look for. This is how Abby supports continuity of care at scale.

When should I book a follow-up?

Your clinician will often recommend a follow-up at the end of your consultation, along with a suggested timeframe. Common reasons to book a follow-up include:

• Your symptoms have not improved or have worsened since your last consultation.
• You have started a new course of treatment and need a review.
• You are managing a chronic condition and are due for a check-in.
• You received pathology or imaging results you want to discuss.
• Your clinician referred you to a specialist and you need a follow-up referral or review.

If your symptoms are severe or worsening unexpectedly, do not wait for a follow-up appointment — call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Is a follow-up appointment bulk billed?

Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. This applies to follow-up consultations in the same way as first consultations, provided your Medicare eligibility has not changed. For detail on who qualifies, see who is eligible for bulk billing. The Services Australia Medicare page explains the broader Medicare framework for telehealth, and the official telehealth item numbers are listed on MBS Online. The RACGP describes follow-up care as one of the strongest indicators of high-quality general practice.

What if my follow-up needs are more complex?

Some follow-up situations — for example, a mental health care plan review, a chronic disease management plan, or an urgent clinical review — may involve a longer consultation or a different appointment type. When you describe your concern during the booking process, Abby will guide you to the most appropriate appointment type. Our clinicians are AHPRA-registered and experienced in managing complex ongoing care via telehealth.

If you are managing a mental health concern, see how to get a mental health care plan online in Australia for guidance on ongoing mental health support through Abby.

How Abby can help

Abby Health was built around the idea that a doctor who knows you provides better care. Every follow-up is an opportunity to build that understanding further. Abby Health is an online-first clinic available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, across Australia. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Book your follow-up at abbyhealth.app.